School District 27’s new draft policy for community use of schools will be on the district’s website for the public to review until May 21.
The 14-page document includes rules and regulations for school use and a new fee schedule that switches from the former monthly rate to an hourly rate system.
The fee schedule calls for a minimum booking of two-hours and a maximum fee charge of up to eight hours.
The new fees are scheduled to start August 1.
Rates were established on a square foot use basis and after consulting with user groups and comparing facility use rates at other local venues and what other school districts are charging, secretary-treasurer Kevin Futcher explained in presenting the draft at the regular board meeting Tuesday evening.
The trustees endorsed the draft which is in keeping with the district’s cost recovery mandate and authorized it to be put on the district’s website for further input from the public before the draft is given final approval.
An administrative reference manual of procedures for staff will be completed once the board has given final approval to the new policy.
The policy includes a non-refundable administration application fee of $10 applied to all rental groups per location. The payment must be attached to each rental application.
Rates per hour are as follows:
Classroom: youth not for profit, unpaid instructor, $2.25; youth not for profit, paid instructor, $3; adult not for profit, $3.50; private: $10; commercial: $12.50.
Small elementary gym/library/multi-purpose: youth not for profit, unpaid instructor, $4.75; youth not for profit, paid instructor, $6; adult not for profit, $7.50; private: $20; commercial, $25.
Regular elementary gym (and half of PSO secondary gym): youth not for profit, unpaid instructor, $9; youth not for profit, paid instructor, $11.50; adult not for profit, $13.50; private, $30; commercial, $40.
Secondary school gym: youth not for profit, unpaid instructor, $16; youth not for profit, paid instructor, $20; adult not for profit, $24.; private, $60; commercial, $75.
Groups will be able to receive a 25 per cent reduction in their rental fee for booking the entire school year Oct. 15 to June 15 for a minimum two-hour rental per week. There would be no refunds for cancelled bookings unless the cancellations exceed 25 per cent of the annual booking. All other rates would apply.
The schedule includes custodial fees of $30 per hour, for a minimum four-hour callout with (overtime rates may apply) for all days that students are not in session including weekends, fall, spring and winter breaks and non-instructional days.
A custodial fee may still apply for larger groups even when the facility custodian is on site.
The custodial fee may be waived for small groups of less than 20 that book for two hours during times when the school custodian is not on site. In lieu of the regular custodial fee, the rental fee for the small groups will be increased by 25 per cent to offset the cost of cleaning on days when students are not in session.
The fee schedule includes a small group key deposit (other conditions also apply) of $100. In some circumstances a key may be distributed to a community group.
Fees are also in place for the delivery of tables and chairs between schools. The delivery fee would be $100 for in-town delivery and $150 for out-of town delivery.
A rental fee for the use of tables and chairs and equipment will also apply.
